Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Talk about a counter-cultural prayer, this certainly is one. Surely, the call to radical repentance is more timely than ever.
However, today, in TEC, John the Baptist would probably be derided and dismissed as a religious fanatic, and seen as deeply divisive and way too judgmental. Hmmm. No wonder I like him.
David Handy+